Two teams currently on losing skids, the Edmonton Oilers and the Minnesota Wild take the ice at the Xcel Energy Center. The first puck will drop at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 7, and you’ll be able to watch this Western Conference matchup live on Sportsnet West.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Minnesota Wild Odds
Minnesota (-200) is currently the favorite over Edmonton (+170), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at an even 6 goals (-120 under, +100 over).
The Wild are 26-27 straight up (SU) and have hurt moneyline bettors to the tune of -8.1 units so far. That early-season winning percentage is a regression from the 45-37 record that the team managed during the 2017-18 season campaign. Of its 53 games this season, 23 have gone under the total, while 23 have gone over and just five have pushed. The team’s 13-13 SU at home this season.
Minnesota has converted on 21.0 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked eighth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.5 percent of all penalties.
Minnesota, as a collective unit, has been penalized 3.7 times per game overall this season, 3.2 per game over its last five contests total, and 3.8 per game over its last five at home. The team has had to kill penalties for just 7.3 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, overall.
Boasting a .913 save percentage and 25.9 saves per game, Devan Dubnyk (21-22-4) has been the top option in goal for the Wild this year. If head coach Bruce Boudreau decides to rest him, however, the Wild might turn to Alex Stalock (6-9-9 record, .892 save percentage, 3.00 goals against average).
The Wild will continue to look for leadership from Zach Parise and Mikael Granlund. Parise (46 points) is up to 21 goals and 25 assists and has recorded two or more points in 10 different games this year. Granlund has 12 goals and 32 assists to his credit and has recorded a point in 30 contests.
Edmonton has lost 8.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year and is currently 23-30 straight up (SU). Through 53 regular season outings, 25 of its games have gone over the total, while 24 have gone under the total and just four have pushed. Edmonton’s 11-15 SU as the visiting team this season.
Edmonton has scored on 22.2 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s good enough for ninth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 30th overall and it’s successfully killed off 74.9 percent of all penalties.
Edmonton’s skaters have been penalized 3.9 times per game in total this season, and 5.0 per game over their last five road outings. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 8.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Mikko Koskinen (.906 save percentage and 2.89 goals against average) has been the main option in goal for Edmonton. Koskinen is averaging 24.8 saves per game and has 14 wins, 16 losses, and two OT losses to his credit.
Connor McDavid (31 goals, 47 assists) has been one of the primary offensive playmakers for the visiting Oilers.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Minnesota Wild Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Wild, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- Minnesota is 1-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Edmonton is 3-0 in shootouts.
- For both of these teams, the over has hit in three of their last five outings.
- Minnesota has allowed 2.9 goals per game overall this season, but is allowing 4.0 goals per matchup in its last three contests (the team is 0-3 SU over that stretch).
- Four of Edmonton’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 1-3 in those games.
- Edmonton skaters have given out the fourth-most hits in the league (27.0 per game), but the team’s averaged just 23.0 hits over their last five away games.
